Thirty two House Democrats have signed a letter from House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. to the House Armed Services Committee Chairman Republican Buck McKeon. They are protesting language in Detainee Security Act bill and asking for hearings. The language, Democrats say would amount to a permanent declaration of war against the Taliban, al Qaeda and associates. The letter says in part:

"By declaring a global war against nameless individuals, organizations and nations 'associated' with the Taliban and al Qaeda, as well as those playing a supporting role in their efforts, the Detainee Security Act would appear to grant the president near unfettered authority to initiate military action around the world without further congressional approval,"

Democrats wrote. "Such authority must not be ceded to the president without careful deliberation from Congress."

The Democrats also expresses concern with provisions in the bill regarding conflicts between civilian and military terrorist prisoner trials.

The Detainee Security Act in effect requires that terrorism suspects be tried in military commissions, thereby cutting out Article III federal courts from conducting terrorism trials.

According to The Hill online Chairman Buck McKeon is not expected to consider the Democrats requests and the bill will move forward.